New project to improve health and wellbeing of PAs in Scotland

A new project is set to launch which will work to improve the health and wellbeing of Personal Assistants in Scotland.

The University of Birmingham’s IMPACT (IMProving Adult Care Together) centre hosts several projects – known as Demonstrators – each year, aimed at improving adult social care across the UK.

This year, one of these projects will focus on improving the health and wellbeing of Personal Assistants in Scotland.

The IMPACT centre explains that the project will work by “exploring how we can use evidence to address a major strategic issue.” The project leads will “work with local stakeholders and draw on evidence to understand the issue and how it can be addressed, before facilitating an evidence-informed change programme.”

The project has come about thanks to the work of the Wellbeing Subgroup of the PA Programme Board. Subgroup Chair Donna Murray said: “Our PA Wellbeing Subgroup is excited about hosting two part time Senior Strategic Improvement Coaches thanks to IMPACT. Starting in July, they will help the Subgroup and the PA Programme Board to understand better how PAs’ wellbeing can be supported, and how, together with PA Employers, we can ensure PAs know where to go and how best to support their own wellbeing. Being part of a UK-wide adult social care improvement programme will also allow us to share learning from Scotland and provide support that maximises the relationship between PA and PA employer.”

The ultimate outcome of the project will include sharing the insights widely, and working with national policy and practice leaders to embed learning.

The project is currently recruiting for two part-time Senior Strategic Improvement Coaches, with a target start date of July 2023. The closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday 14 April 2023, and more details can be found here: https://impact.bham.ac.uk/our-people/vacancies/